Modifying Electrode Properties of Carbon-Fiber Materials by Electrolysis in Aqueous Solutions

The possibility of applying electrolysis in aqueous solution for the modification of electrode properties of carbon-fiber materials (CFM) is examined. It is shown that the cathodic and anodic polarization of CFM in solutions of acids and alkalis alters the state of the surface of fibers that constitute CFM, which is manifested in a change of the CFM electrode potential. The possibility of changing the CFM electroconductivity by an electrode treatment is demonstrated. This makes it possible to design electrodes with electroconductivity that varies over the electrode's thickness. The latter is of importance for both developing non-isoelectroconducting three-dimensional electrodes with a rigid matrix and comprehending operation principles of carbon-fiber electrodes. The obtained experimental data conform to the calculated dependences, specifically, profiles of electroconductivity and polarization over the electrode thickness are similar.